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Principles of Effective Youth Engagement

What is Youth Engagement?

Positive Youth Development

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility

Encouraging Youth Leadership

Equal Collaboration

Providing Mentorship and Guidance

Introduction to Youth Engagement

Getting Started: Leadership & Intention

Community Safety Considerations

Creating Safe & Supportive Environments

Committing to Long-Term Youth Engagement Efforts

Addressing Barriers to Participation

Overcoming Challenges in Youth Engagement

Budgeting and Compensation

Social Media

Conclusion

Creating a Culture of Youth Engagement 

How an Organization should engage with youth breaks into two main points: 
Organization leadership and intention
Structure and Communication

This document explores the first point: Leadership and Intention

When developing your youth engagement initiative, it is important to do some ground work early in development that examines why you are interested in engaging with youth and what you want to do with said youth. This vision should be clear, goal oriented, and those goals should be formed in partnership with your youth, staff, and community. These goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely (SMART). 

Once those goals have been set, the discussion of structure and communication becomes necessary. Who is responsible for what parts? How do we go about making decisions? Who does what? Let’s examine some general roles and practices. 

We will be talking about three groups; youth, staff of the org who work directly with youth, and other members of the org or cause. Each member of the youth initiative plays an important role in its success, and while some tasks or roles overlap, it is important to understand where those overlaps are and how to handle them when they arise. 

Clear communication channels are needed to establish expectations and coordinate activities. It is important that all members of the org be updated and collaborate with the youth staff. 

(Side note: youth staff are NOT social media staff. That’s a different job and should be budgeted accordingly) 
However, they can and should be included on any social media piece posted on their behalf/about them, as part of their paid work 





When using social media as a tool it is important to keep the following in mind:

Social media
Make sure all social media/blog/website/etc. posts adhere to community standards / group rules
Are certain political topics off limits or encouraged to post about?
What type of words are used in posts and captions?
Make sure terms are researched and generally approved by the community they are about (ex autistic/person w/ autism, queer/lgtbq2ia+, etc.)
Different members of the same community might use person first or identity first language. Know which you are using and why.
MAKE EVERYTHING ACCESSIBLE. (Add image description to all posts, use accessible designs and fonts as much as possible, etc.)
Familiarize yourself with web accessibility***


There are a number of topics that any organization seeking to do youth engagement should be aware of and considering when planning and executing their initiative. Some of those are as follows. 

Organization leadership and intention

When preparing to interact with youth, it is important to note the federal and state guidelines with regards to protecting the youth in your charge. In many states, those working with youth under the age of 18 are mandated reporters. Meaning that they are legally responsible to report any signs of child abuse or sexual abuse that they encounter. It is also important that all staff working with youth have the appropriate background checks, training, and clearances required by law. 

Preparation for Org members working with youth
Take Mandatory Reporter Trainings
May need to take both youth and adult trainings if you are working with youth older and/or younger than 18
Inform youth that you are a mandated reporter & what that means

The perspective and worldview of your organization is worth considering when planning to interact with youth. According to a recent Gallop Poll, 20% of Gen Z identity somewhere in the LGBTQIA+ community. That is 1 in every 5 young adults. Considerations for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are the bedrock of youth engagement moving forward. Young people today are looking for places where they can be themselves, safe from judgemental structures and forced conformity. Staff training surrounding DEIA is critical, as they must be on board and actively supportive of implementing these concepts in their youth initiatives. 

DEIA 
Training
Make sure staff with and without disclosed disabilities are competitively and meaningfully employed, with wages that reflect DEIA
Group makeup
The diversity makeup of the group should reflect DEIA standards, including staff and youth. When in more homogenous areas, seek out diverse voices outside your community to share. 
Intersectionality
This is the idea that one person can have multiple identities at the same time. Someone can be queer and a person of color, and have a disability. Each of these identities intersects with the others and affects each individual differently. It is important that all staff understand their own intersections as well as those of the youth they work alongside. 


Just as the organization should create a safe environment through DEIA practices, they also should craft community safety guidelines that all youth and staff adhere to. When hosting events or planning social media posts, or anything else really, is it safe for everyone to participate? A partial list of safety considerations is as follows:

Community Safety Considerations
Do not drink or smoke around youth
Do not share stories that are too personal/not appropriate for youth and/or colleagues
Is swearing allowed?
Are certain topics off limits?
Off limits to complete projects on?
Off limits to talk about within group meetings?
Do you have at least one other staff member on all communications with youth (even texts?)
Having at least two staff on every communication with a youth allows for accountability and safety. 
Caregiver work
Cannot legally do caregiver tasks (such as feeding, bathing, putting in bed, etc.) without certification and prior paperwork
Anyone without proper certification should not be in a caregiver role, as it creates a safety liability for the organization. 
Some of these seem simple and self explanatory, but it is important that all involved agree to these guidelines. Some of these items are questions that the group will need to answer together. These safety guidelines apply whether the group is virtual or in person, in emails and text communications, in any and all interactions between staff and youth, and youth with one another.
Whenever planning an in person meeting/gathering/event, there are a few things to keep in mind: 

In person interaction guidelines and recommendations:  
Oftentimes food is a good incentive to get youth to attend
DoorDash gift cards can be provided for virtual gatherings, having a virtual hang out where everyone orders their food to their door and you eat together is a popular method.
No providing alcohol/cigarettes/etc. even to youth 21+
Do not be alone with youth or communicate with youth without another staff member present/on the digital communication
No driving youth without a signed waiver
Don’t drive youth alone
Have emergency contacts for all youth 
Even those over 18
Keep them updated on any unfolding situations that were not apart of the original outing/trip plan
Have contacts of anyone with guardianship of youth of any age
Keep them updated on any unfolding situations that were not apart of the original outing/trip plan

Budgeting and Compensation
Whenever the organization is working alongside the youth to achieve a task or finish a project, consider that youth should be compensated for their time and talents just like adults. That compensation can look different, it doesn’t always have to be a direct payment. That compensation can also come in the form of social capital, which is addressed elsewhere in this packet. 

Even when planning out a youth initiative, there will be incurred expenses. Your youth staff/initiative should have a budget of some kind to support events/meetings/gatherings/conferences and more. There is more guidance on creating a youth budget elsewhere in this packet. 




Welcome to the course "Creating a Culture of Youth Engagement"! This course is designed to help you understand the importance of youth engagement and empower you with the skills and knowledge to create an environment that encourages young people to become active and engaged members of their communities.

Youth engagement is a critical component of building strong, vibrant communities. When young people are engaged and empowered, they are more likely to become responsible and active citizens, make positive contributions to their communities, and develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in life.

In this course, we will start by defining youth engagement and discussing its importance. We will explore the principles of effective youth engagement, including inclusivity, diversity, youth-led initiatives, and collaborative partnerships. We will also examine strategies for creating a culture of youth engagement, such as providing safe and supportive environments, ensuring physical and emotional safety, and offering relevant and appealing opportunities.

Throughout the course, we will emphasize the importance of involving youth in decision-making processes, valuing their input, and providing resources and training to support their growth and development. We will also discuss the importance of measuring and evaluating youth engagement to ensure that our efforts are effective and making a difference in the lives of young people.

By the end of this course, you will have a deep understanding of the concept of youth engagement, the principles and strategies for creating a culture of youth engagement, and the tools and techniques for measuring and evaluating youth engagement. You will be equipped to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in your community and beyond.

So, let's get started on this exciting journey of learning and discovery! Together, we can create a culture of youth engagement that empowers young people to reach their full potential and contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.